Great food lovers of Chicago rejoice, the MICHELIN Guide Chicago 2020 has arrived, featuring a grand total of 196 restaurants; of the 25 starred establishments, five are new, and all located in the West Loop.
"Our inspectors are especially impressed by the high-end Japanese cuisine available in the West Loop,” says Gwendal Poullennec, international director of the MICHELIN Guides. “We have five new one-star restaurants in the 2020 MICHELIN Guide Chicago, each of which demonstrates a fine attention to detail and serves high-quality, top-notch cuisine.”
The Oriole team shocked airwaves when they announced the opening of their latest and highly-anticipated venture Kumiko earlier this year. And below Kumiko lies newly-minted MICHELIN-starred Kikkō, a tasting counter secretly tucked away in the luxe cocktail den. Executed by chef de cuisine Mariya Russell and overseen by Oriole’s Noah Sandoval, culinary highlights include sashimi, house-made tofu and seared mackerel with creative, clever touches.
Chicago veteran chef B.K. Park earns one MICHELIN star with Mako, an impressive omakase offering a strikingly beautiful procession of sushi, while chef Sangtae Park’s Omakase Yume, an intimate spot where diners enjoy high-quality food at a good value, also earns one star.
Yūgen, also receiving one MICHELIN star in the 2020 guide, is led by executive chef Mari Katsumura. Here, she and her all-female team serve up a thoughtfully composed dining experience, where contemporary cooking is influenced by Japanese flavors and techniques that creatively reflect the chef’s personal experience.
MICHELIN inspectors recognized Next, the innovative concept from chefs Edgar Tinoco and Grant Achatz, with one star in the 2020 edition. Formerly a MICHELIN Plate, Next offers a novel approach to dining, changing its themed menu multiple times a year.
“Our inspectors have frequented Next for several years and are thrilled to recognize it with a star in the 2020 MICHELIN Guide,” Poullennec adds. “The menu delivers a fresh experience, and the food is consistently high-quality and worthy of recognition.”
Alinea, also led by chef Grant Achatz, retains three stars, the highest recognition offered by the Guide.
Congratulations to all restaurants. View the full list of starred establishments in the MICHELIN Guide Chicago 2020 selection below.
MICHELIN Guide Chicago 2020
Hero image courtesy of Mako/Facebook.
